Master’s in Combat Ship Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in combat ship engineering: 12 modules covering combat ship design, hydrostatics and stability, resistance and propulsion, seakeeping, structure, survivability, platform systems, combat system integration, shipbuilding, regulations and life-cycle support, under ANEP-77 (Naval Ship Code), Lloyd’s Register and DNV naval rules, with an assigned technical tutor.
Master’s in Combat Ship Engineering — studying from Ireland
Ireland maintains a small defence force, the Defence Forces, which operates its own engineering corps and equipment maintenance capabilities. Defence procurement and development are handled through the Department of Defence, while much of the wider defence-related industrial activity involves dual-use technologies, electronics and communications systems supplied by domestic and international firms. Engineers in this area typically work on land vehicle maintenance, military communications, protective equipment and systems integration. Policy and procurement are governed by national and European frameworks, including EU defence initiatives.
Fees for Ireland: €7,920 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Ireland
Typical roles
Questions from Ireland
Which Irish bodies oversee defence engineering and does a private qualification count?
Defence in Ireland is overseen by the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces run their own training and technical structures. Engineers Ireland sets general professional engineering standards. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not state-awarded, and they are not accredited by any national body, so recognition for any defence-related role is decided by the relevant authority or employer.
Do Irish defence and land-systems employers hire people with private online qualifications?
Irish defence-related hiring is limited and often subject to security vetting and specific qualification requirements, so employers set their own criteria. A private online qualification may be taken into account alongside experience, but we cannot say how any employer will view it or guarantee any result. Check requirements for particular roles directly.
Can I study this from Ireland while working, and what is the workload?
Yes, the programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Plan your weekly hours realistically around your job.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Define the requirements and initial sizing of a combat ship.
Evaluate intact and damage stability.
Estimate resistance and size the propulsion plant.
Analyse seakeeping and manoeuvrability.
Design the structure taking shock loads into account.
Integrate survivability criteria and the combat system.
Develop a complete preliminary design in the Master's Thesis.
Who it's for
- Naval design engineers.
- Naval structural engineers.
- Stability engineers.
- Systems integration engineers working on warship programmes.
- Shipbuilding engineers.
- Naval programme managers.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to move into shipbuilding.
What you'll work with
- ANEP-77 (Naval Ship Code) (NATO naval ship safety code)
- Lloyd’s Register Rules for Naval Ships (classification rules for naval ships)
- DNV Rules for Naval Vessels (classification rules for naval vessels)
- MIL-DTL-901E (shock testing of shipboard equipment)
- STANAG 4154 (common procedures for seakeeping in ship design)
- MIL-STD-461G (electromagnetic interference control)
- MARPOL 73/78 (prevention of pollution from ships)
- STANAG 1008 (electrical power systems in NATO warships)
- Maxsurf
- FORAN
- Rhinoceros
- ANSYS Mechanical
- AVEVA Marine
12 modules
1.1Staff requirements1.2Frigates, corvettes, destroyers and patrol vessels1.3The naval design spiral1.4Initial estimation of weights and dimensions1.5General arrangement1.6Growth margins1.7Acquisition cost1.8Naval design standards1.9The F-110 programme as a reference1.10Case study: initial sizing of a frigate
2.1Hydrostatic curves2.2Intact stability2.3Stability criteria for warships2.4Damage stability2.5Watertight subdivision2.6Flooding criteria2.7Wind and high-speed manoeuvring2.8Ice accretion2.9Inclining experiment2.10Laboratory: calculation with Maxsurf Stability
3.1Resistance to forward motion3.2Towing tank tests3.3Hull forms3.4Controllable-pitch propellers3.5CODAG, CODOG and CODLAG plants3.6Integrated electric propulsion3.7Shaft lines3.8Efficiency and fuel consumption3.9Radiated noise from propulsion3.10Practical exercise: power estimation with Holtrop-Mennen
4.1Ship motions in waves4.2Wave spectra4.3Response amplitude operators (RAO)4.4Operability criteria4.5Active stabilisers4.6Embarked air operations4.7Manoeuvrability4.8Manoeuvring tests4.9Sea trials4.10Workshop: operability analysis in a maritime area
5.1Global and local loads5.2Scantlings5.3Naval steels and aluminium5.4Naval classification rules5.5Finite element analysis5.6Fatigue of structural details5.7Underwater explosion shock5.8Residual strength after damage5.9Weight optimisation5.10Practical exercise: midship section scantlings
6.1Susceptibility, vulnerability and recoverability6.2Radar, infrared, acoustic and magnetic signatures6.3Ballistic protection6.4Shock according to MIL-DTL-901E6.5Survivability subdivision6.6CBRN protection and citadel6.7Damage control6.8Redundancy and separation of systems6.9Vulnerability analysis6.10Case study: reducing the radar signature of the superstructure
7.1Power generation7.2Power distribution7.3HVAC and ventilation7.4Firefighting7.5Fuel systems7.6Fresh water and services7.7Integrated platform management7.8Habitability7.9Automation and crewing7.10Laboratory: ship electrical load balance
8.1Combat system architecture8.2Sensor integration8.3Integrated masts8.4Electromagnetic compatibility on deck8.5Platform-combat system interface8.6Weights and spaces of the combat system8.7Flight deck and hangar8.8Integration of unmanned vehicles8.9Integration testing8.10Workshop: topside EMC study
9.1Block construction9.2Shipyard planning9.3Naval welding9.4Advanced block outfitting9.5Quality management9.6Shipyard 4.0 and digitalisation9.7Harbour acceptance tests9.8Sea acceptance trials9.9Ship delivery9.10Case study: block assembly sequence
10.1Naval Ship Code ANEP-7710.2DNV, Lloyd’s Register and Bureau Veritas naval rules10.3SOLAS as a reference10.4MARPOL on warships10.5Military certification10.6Functional safety10.7NATO publications10.8Classification versus certification10.9Compliance audits10.10Practical exercise: Naval Ship Code compliance matrix
11.1Integrated logistic support11.2Planned maintenance11.3Mid-life upgrade11.4Obsolescence management11.5Operational availability11.6Digital twin of the ship11.7Naval decarbonisation11.8Ship dismantling and recycling11.9Life-cycle costs11.10Case study: modernisation plan for a frigate
12.1Ship requirements12.2Sizing and hull form12.3Stability and subdivision12.4Propulsion plant12.5Structure12.6Survivability and integration12.7Costs and risks12.8Conclusions and future work12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Maxsurf, FORAN, Rhinoceros, ANSYS Mechanical and AVEVA Marine, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for intact and damage stability calculations, propulsion power estimates and electromagnetic compatibility studies on deck. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ANEP-77 (Naval Ship Code), Lloyd’s Register Rules for Naval Ships, DNV Rules for Naval Vessels, MIL-DTL-901E, STANAG 4154, MIL-STD-461G, MARPOL 73/78, STANAG 1008.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Maxsurf, FORAN, Rhinoceros, ANSYS Mechanical and AVEVA Marine, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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